This article is from page 12 of the 2006-11-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
CLARE hurling star Gerry Quinn has expressed concern for the fate of the rare ‘Yellow Hammer’ bird in an objection to contentious plans by Meteor Communications to erect a 50 ft mast at Rockvale, Tubber.
The objection lodged by the Corofin auctioneer is just one of 23 separate objections against the Meteor plan. One of the objections includes a petition of 75 names.
The Rockvale Action Group, formed in opposition to the mast, has described it as “undesirable and unnecessary”. They say it will devalue houses and land in the area.
“The area between Lough Bunny and Lough Skearden is important for migrating birds. The rarest bird in the area is the Yellow Hammer and is on the amber list of endangered birds,” according to Mr Quinn.
“If such a development was allowed, could the council guarantee the preservation of the natural heritage just listed? Such a development must contravene many conservation acts and cannot be given the goahead.
“I am appealing on both professional and private grounds. I own a site less than 200 metres from the mast. All property in the environs of such a mast would be seriously devalued and therefore would be a serious injustice to all property owners.
“As an auctioneer myself, I believe a figure for this could be up to 30 per cent within 400 metres of the mast, which I note under the development plan this is a non compensatable ground for refusing such structures. Who is liable to compensation the property owners for this devaluation?
“I have serious concerns for the preservation of two significant monuments Cillin and Boston Castle.”
However, in its own submission, Meteor state, “We have purposely chosen a location that will have the least visual or environmental impact by proposing to locate the structure behind existing farm buildings to screen the structure from the surrounding public roads as much as possible.
“The zoning is classified as a ‘vulnerable landscape’ in the Clare County Development Plan. However, none of the named diverse range of important habitats are applicable in this location as it is on ordinary agricultural land and is not an important habitat.”
“In summary, the proposed location provides the optimum location for the site in order to provide a consistent and contiguous level of service to the Aughrim area and R460 road and surrounding roads whilst minimizing the impact on the environment.”
A decision is due on the application next month.